At Kranioti Aori, on Psiloritis, at an altitude of 848m, we built with our own hands a mitato - a shelter of Cretan tradition. At the Shepherd's House, we aim to share our traditions and way of life with every visitor. During your visit, depending on the season, you can witness the milking of our sheep and participate in cheese making, animal care, raki distillation, herb gathering, and traditional cooking. Afterwards, we'll all enjoy local delicacies together. The wild nature surrounding the mitato offers unchanged paths for hiking, bird watching, herb searching, and cycling.
Services:
Milking and cheese making
JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER
Every day at the Shepherd's House, we milk our herd and make cheese.
Result: Graviera, Myzithra, and Anthotyro - the most famous cheeses of Crete.
Shepherd's paths
ALL YEAR ROUND
Paths through oak forests, chestnut trees, rocky slopes, and mitata start from the Shepherd's House. Programs are easily tailored to beginners and experienced hikers.
Wildlife observation
ALL YEAR ROUND, with particular interest from April to July
The unique nature of Psiloritis, with its rich relief, special microclimate, and rare flora, impresses even the most demanding visitor.
Experiential workshops
ALL YEAR ROUND
Through experiential activities and games, young and old learn about the products and traditions of the shepherds and get to know the Cretan landscape. Depending on the season:
- Milking & cheese making
- Vegetable cultivation
- Sheep shearing
- Herb gathering
- Cretan cooking lessons
- Raki distillation
- Cretan music and dance
- Organized snow games, etc., combining an ideal scenario for all ages.
Traditional threshing
JULY - AUGUST
In an open area, we built the threshing floor where threshing takes place, a traditional technique for cleaning grains.
Raki distillation
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
A few weeks after the grape harvest, the grapes are ready to become raki. We gather around the cauldron with good company, Cretan appetizers, and, of course, fresh raki.
